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Team Says Turnovers Hurting

by
San Jose Sharks Staff
/ San Jose Sharks

The Sharks coaches and players are simply not happy with the way they have played in their two games since returning from Europe. A 1-2-1 record in is not a reason to push the panic button, this is a talented club that will find its way, but for the Sharks it is a matter of playing to the bar they’ve set and they have not done that according their post game quotes following the 5-2 loss to Carolina.

Turnovers are a big part of the problem, directly leading to at least two Carolina goals.

“If you look at the offensive chances, the number of empty nets that we missed tonight, and the number of chances around the net offensively in the last couple games, we haven’t been polished,” Sharks Head Coach Todd McLellan said. “After that you look at the number of turnovers . . . tonight (it was) clearly on our tape for the two goals.”

“I thought every goal they scored was on our stick for a little bit and we just gave it up,” Joe Thornton said. “It just went in the back of the net. You’re not going to win games when you give the other team Grade A chances when it’s on your stick. It should be a firm play and away you go. We’re making mental mistakes that shouldn’t happen. Mistakes happen but we’ve got to correct them now.”

San Jose trailed 3-0 and pulled to within one after 40 minutes of play. The crowd was sensing a complete comeback before another critical mistake put Carolina up 4-2 and that took the wind completely out of the sails. McLellan was more concerned with the deficit that the attempted rally.

“At 3-0 you have a little bit of pride and play pretty hard, so we did come back in that area,” McLellan said. “Far too many mistakes, you may win five percent of your games coming back from 3-0.”

After two home games before the usual sellout crowds, the Sharks bench boss said its time for the veteran Sharks to find a way.

“There are always excuses of traveling to Europe and what not, but I don’t buy into that,” McLellan said. “We’ve been home for ten days. (We’ve tried) to use the excuse we haven’t played many games, (but) we just played two games in four nights. I think it comes from the individuals, it’s the way they prepare and the type of game they want to play right now, and it’s not the right formula.”

FIRST GAMEMike Moore dressed for the contest and it marked his first career NHL game. It wasn’t the ideal situation, but it was a nice marker for the rookie.

“You always want your first one to be a win,” Moore said. “It’s something you’ve been working hard towards all your life. It was exciting, but unfortunately we didn’t get the win. It’s good to get under the belt. It is a little disappointing, but we made some mistakes that cost us.”

STARTER TWOPatrick Marleau scored his first two goals of the season in the second period.

PP STAYS HOTThe Sharks have scored a power play goal in each of their first four games and are now 6-for-20 (30.0%) this season.

500Scott Nichol played in his 500th career NHL game.

4 IN A ROWJoe Thornton extended his scoring streak to four games with his second assist of the season (2+2=4).

CAROLINA HURRICANES COACH PAUL MAURICE“The things we wanted to do, we didn’t do in Vancouver and we didn’t have success. We directly did a lot of them tonight and it’s good early in the season to have a night where you get five. It just gets more people feeling good about themselves and feeling like they’re having a good start to their season, which is really important.”

“In relation to our last game, we kept the puck moving forward in the first and the third, I thought, a lot better than we did in Vancouver. We did a much better job of managing the puck, supporting the puck. The rest of your game comes off that, the defense is up the ice, the gaps are tighter and when we get down, we have a good goaltender and that’s probably the overlooked piece when we win some nights.”

“What that (the fourth goal) does is say our third periods aren’t going to be played in our end of the ice and then the next shift right after that was fantastic and it kind of sets the minds right that we’re trying to go forward here, even if we have the lead.”

NEXT GAMEThe Sharks will play Colorado Thursday at 6 p.m. and the game will be on CSN California, 98.5 KFOX and sjsharks.com.